— Critical issues concerning the Church —

Fellow Soldier,

A reader who opted out, pled: “Can’t you give us more good news ... say, about God’s love?”  Oh my! Good news is always a joy and if left entirely to us, we might serve nothing but cake, ice cream, ear muffs and smooth sayings.  However, as kingdom conduits, we pour forth (hopefully, without contamination) that which flows in ... palatability notwithstanding.

Field Reports feature critical issues facing the Church, though are not bereft of encouragement.  See through today’s rapidly collapsing world-order and flood of ominous fare; they trumpet the celestially good news of the Lord’s imminent return.  The blacker present darkness, the more depraved, desperate and demonic the world ... the closer our deliverance at Christ’s soon appearing (see Luke 21:28).  Maranatha!

Speaking Smoothly

It is neither loving nor merciful to lie to one another.

"They say to the seers, 'See no more visions!' and to the prophets, 'Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant (smooth) things, prophesy illusions."' — Isa 30:10 NIV

Some time after receiving a pastor’s letter in which he labeled our publication “prophetic,” we questioned his sheep fare.  By invitation, we then provided evidence which indicted some as toxic (he’d turned his pulpit over to 40 days of deception, pointed saints toward the Hebrew Roots Movement, sanctioned a mystic’s writings for “Bible Study” and couldn’t see that the “Emerging” church was submerging the church).

Dialog eventually faltered on big name endorsements of same, plus this precious pastor’s (seeming) belief that it’s unloving to name God’s enemies.  Thus, for love’s sake, that flock is periodically fed feathers, toenails, beaks and bones for the tidbits of nourishment they might provide.  Ugh!  Dumpster dining.

Watchmen & weaklings

During the 1932-39 run-up to World War Two (WW-ll) Winston Churchill did all a rational person could in persuading England and America’s weak leadership to ramp up defenses.  Unceasingly, he exhorted in Parliament, the press, by pen and in person.  All the while, Adolph Hitler, Germany’s Chancellor and one of history’s most evil tyrants (in the league of Herod, Hamen, Hussein, Hamas and Hizaballah ... h-mm) was flat out building guns, tanks bombs and warplanes.  Reality veritably screamed that war was imminent. But weak, appeasing and pacifist leaders of both nations were unable to face the truth.  They didn’t want to hear such talk from anyone.  It was too painful.  After all, the carnage, destruction and horror of World War One (WW-l) the “war to end all wars,” wasn’t yet 20 years behind.

According to Churchill’s biographer1, “the dangers were too acute to be hidden behind bland platitudes and on November 17, 1932, he wrote to the Daily Mail, ‘Do not delude yourselves ... I cannot recall at any time when the gap between the kind words which statesmen used and what was actually happening in many countries was so great as it is now.  The habit of saying smooth things and uttering pious platitudes and sentiments to gain applause, without relation to underlying facts, is more pronounced now than it has ever been in my experience.’”  Churchill pleaded for leaders to speak the truth, not “smooth things” to the people.  Even invoking scripture!

In like manner, dear one, having long since been divinely drafted into the ranks of trumpeters, we must speak to you forthrightly.  Our desire is that every unpalatable utterance is of God, birthed in love and bathed in prayer.  Our hearts ache at the sight of blinded beloved, blissfully ballrooming with Babylon in its end-time death spiral.  Short of taking to the streets in a  Repent!  The end is near! sandwich board and at risk of hyperbole, we believe these are crucial and biblically historic times.  We therefore urge you to test our words with the templates of scripture, history and today’s geopolitical realities (likewise, with what you hear from the church, politicians and mass media).  Be a diligent and wise Berean (Acts 17:10).

The gravity of these times has yet to impact much of the church or citizenry because of smooth talk by the nation’s leadership and Pavlovian drooling of its captive media.  Although the Great Recession has dampened “eat, drink and be merry” thinking, underlying causes remain.  Toxic doses of fiscal meds have provided some symptom relief, but VERY serious side effects will soon erupt.  For certain, a deadly economic pathogen has metastasized in the global system (itself destined to soon give way to the last day’s version).  Smoothies would have us believe the worst is behind, but Titanic reality says it lies immediately ahead of the ship of state ... and it’ll impact suddenly.

Smoothly deceiving

It’s one thing to knock sharp corners off truth to blunt its cutting edge; quite another to deceive. For example: weak political leaders have historically avoided the phrase, “tax increase,” substituting such smoothies as: creative revenue enhancements, taxpayer contributions, invest in the future, realigned fee structures, etc.  However, matters become more serious when even highest officials in this land, deceptively rip and tear at its Constitution.  Indeed, from top down, a covert open season has been declared on the bedrock legal document of this nation (which freedom protections have already been dangerously compromised).  It is rebellion against authority.  Vicariously, God’s.

Secular rebellion aside, the greater danger to believers is the wholesale, unrelenting and deceitful attacks on the authority of God’s Word.  From every quarter, smooth speaking “leaders” draw us away from Scripture.  Movements such as the Purpose Driven use a host of paraphrases, partial quotes and contextual violence to this end.  Similarly, the Emerging Church points the unwary away from the orthodox Word to heinous heresy embodied in such mystic-birthed rubbish as The Message Bible; also to Romanesque icons, candles, incense, chants and other sensual accouterments.  Understandably, its no-judgement deceived followers much prefer their cryptic “missional conversation” to the Bible’s clear, authoritative monologue.  Likewise, the New Apostolic Reformation would re-invent Christianity by exchanging God’s Truth for their own brand, plus substitute a man-made, global hierarchy for legitimate church order, etc.

Unabashed rebellion!

Ominous also is lack of biblically strong leaders.  Many cafe’ latte-toting, baptismally-still-wet sheep (emboldened by weak-kneed and appeasing  end-time hirelings) actually demand to be misled.  “Tickle our ears,” they tell teachers whom "they heap to themselves" (2Tim 4:3).  “Lie to us!” they plead.  “Don’t tell us the truth!”  “Don’t reveal what God is saying!”  “Sooth us with ‘smooth’ sayings.” They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right!  Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions.  Leave this way, get off this path, and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel! (Isa 30:10,11).  Listen up!  Divine reality declares that we cannot, with impunity, ignore or disobey God.  He is our sovereign Creator!  He WILL exact a penalty for smooth talking and deceitful conduct; likewise for demanding same from those in authority.

Notice why God tells Isaiah to record this.  So that we too (in this end-time) can benefit; so we cannot plead ignorance on our day of reckoning.  "Go now, write it on a tablet for them, inscribe it on a scroll, that for the days to come it may be an everlasting witness.  These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the LORD's instruction" (Is 30:8,9 underlining added).  Sin with impunity?  No way!  Listen to the penalty God had His prophet inscribe:  "Therefore, this is what the Holy One of Israel says: 'Because you have rejected this message, relied on oppression and depended on deceit, this sin will become for you like a high wall, cracked and bulging, that collapses suddenly, in an instant.'” (vss 12,13 underlining added).  Though contextual details differ, the principle remains fixed.

So: you’re not plugged into a spiritually toxic movement-de-jour, but a local group led by a loving, gentle, compassionate, Bible-centered one apt to teach and who has a heart for missions and souls.  Got the picture?  OK.  Now, please consider these questions: does he (hopefully a he) permit the likes of Promise Keepers or Purpose Driven to access the flock?  Does he invite Jews to (observe) a N.T. Communion service ... or does he take his flock to their O.T. Passover table?  Do “Bible Studies” feature the Bible, or other’s works?  Does he use as translations, the slew of paraphrases? ... teach contemplative prayer? ... allow Yoga exercises?  Well, you get the idea.  If such smooth and deceiving leaders or foods are allowed in your church, can such shepherding dereliction be defended before God’s bar?  Do we overlook them in the name of “love”? ... to not be divisive? ... to maintain unity? (of what?!) ... because we love the pastor, or all our friends go there??  C’mon now!

Please ... do not construe any of this as defaming beloved Pastors or Elders.  Personalities are not the issue.  Truth is!  What simply must be understood is that we are now living in the biblically foretold “end times.” Therefore, not only do the manifold warnings of Jesus and His Apostles apply, but many Old Testament prophecies which specifically speak of “last days,” “time of the end,” “end times,” etc.  Some warn of “smooth” talking, deceitful church and state leaders and consequences of same.  Pray for wisdom.

What these times really need are the likes of Isaiah and Churchill; strong leaders who didn’t water down or withhold truth.  However, it appears we’re divinely destined to be ruled by rebellious kids: "I will make boys their officials; mere children will govern them" (Isa 30:4 NIV).  Batten down!  Rough seas lie dead ahead.

ABOUT US:  Founded in 1993, Hallelujah Living Ministries is a donation-based, non-denominational Christian outreach to uplift, inform and challenge followers of Jesus Christ.  For more information or a copy of our always-free print newsletter, please include a  postal mail address along with your comments and prayer requests. Thank you for visiting This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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